Early Thursday morning, Adagio is re-launched and actually floats (well, I was worried – but they have done this before!)

Adagio Re-launched – nice bottom!

4 days later, Adagio is re-launched back into the marina.  The hull has been scraped, scrubbed and pressure-washed and then several coats of bitumen applied – many thanks to Alex Roker (07595027310) for his hard work and very approachable manner. Here’s 2 pix of the stern (with that Axiom propeller) and the bow (with a view through the bowthruster):

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Re-blacking

Lots of mussels and detritus to be cleaned off … back on Thursday for the re-launch.

Me and my neighbour, Beryl, look on as the boat is whisked up the ramp!

Beryl leaves her boat New Era this week for a new life (at 84!) on dry land.  She only started living on board at 80. A keen lass indeed and we’ll miss her.

Her boat is on sale via Devizes marina:

http://www.devizesmarina.co.uk/propertyDetails.php?pid=464169

Bank Holiday – Liveaboard

It’s the late May Bank Holiday and we’re onboard, ostensibly to drive the boat over to the yard for re-blacking on Monday.  Chance to sample the delights of The Vaults beer & cider festival (twice!), check out the George & Dragon in Rowde (awfully nice). And also try at just living on board without driving the boat anywhere.

On Sunday we walked along the canal from Seend to Gile’s wood – nice  stretch with plenty of boats and a fishing competition.

Toby got to have a swim & we saw a swan family, complete with wee cygnets.

The boat gets its hull re-blacked tomorrow – hopefully I’ll get to video it being trailered out of the marina!

A section of the canal had a storm of flowers cascading down from the trees, giving a surreal passage through the sunlight. Beautiful.

Bank Holiday Outing to Wootton Rivers & Back

Stopping at the quirky Barge Inn, Honeystreet…

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..where the new owners were very busy on this warm Bank Holiday weekend. They had trouble getting the beer pumped through and we ended up with 3 samples of their beer . .  hmm, nice! (1810, Croppie and London Pride)

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But it all goes very quiet after sundown on the canal

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Here’s Adagio moored very handily for the pub

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There are some lovely boats (and some not so lovely!) – this one’s called Chasing Ducks

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Passing Lady’s Bridge (1793 Lady Susannah Wroughton) attributed to Rennie

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And then into a small lagoon called Wide Water, with some unusually-decorated boats.. and the usual patient heron

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Plenty of wildlife … ducks with their young chicks . .  always keen to pick up your breadcrumbs.  Viv even bought a cheap loaf just for them.

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Lots of blossom out

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And a weird experience of sailing through a storm of tree pollen/flowers? (See video).

Viv enjoyed driving and is getting more confident

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A very calm trip.  No roads, no trains … oh, a few planes did interrupt the journey:

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But it was serene! And good weather.

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Wootton Rivers – awfully nice village, mainly adorned with thatched cottages  – even the Royal Oak: